Motion picture film



March 15, 1932. w J co 1,849,909

MOTION PICTURE FILM Filed April 27, 1928 gmnto'v fiatented Mar. l5, i932tame WALDO JOHN CONKIE, 035" DHWVER, COLORADO, ASSTGNGB 'EG rnnn P...WEIGHT, @F DENVER GDLOBADU, TRUSTEE EIOTION 'EICTURE Application filed.April 27, 182%. Eserial Ito. 27$,fi2.

This invention relates to a motion picture film to be used as anaccessory to amusical number. While applicable to an orchestra or anytype of music production it is more particularly applicable to an organ.Motion picture houses usually have a considerable investment involved inan organ. This investment brings very little return since it can only beused as an accessory to the motion pictures and not as a part of theprogram. Attempts have been made to insert an organ solo betweenpictures. But these attempts have not been successful since theattention of the average audience can. not be held during the entiresolo. The music appeals to only one of their senses and they soon becomerestless, and impatiently await the pictures. Because of this fact, thehouses have practically discontinued organ solos. Some houses haveinstalled hydraulic lifts which bring the organist up into view of theaudience while he is playing his solo so as to appeal to the sense ofsight as well as hearing. This has met with better success owing thefact that the audience had something to watch while listening to themusic.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an interesting filmrelating to the music which can be projected upon the screen to hold theattention of the audience during a musical recital, thus appealing tothe senses of sight and hearing simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the film that it willgive cues to the musician throughout his recital so that he can followthe continuity of the program with his music similarly to the methodemployed with vaudeville acts or musical plays.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a text for theaudience to read which will conform to the spirit of the music and to soone this text that the organist will at all times be advised in advanceof changes to appear therein.

further object of the invention is to provide a film which will act uponthe mob psychology of the assembled audience so as to stimulate applauseby providing a comedy relief in the closing frames following thesuspense of a heavy dramatic portion.

Still a further object of this invention is to employ animated figuresin the action which will set the tempo and beat the time for themusician similarly to the baton of an orchestra leader.

A still further object is to so construct the film as to increase theinterest in a musical solo number by introducing the number with tapopular song having relating subject mat- Other objects and advantageswill become apparent from the following description of a typical filmconstructed according to this invention. It is to be understood that allthese objects and advantages are within contemplation of this invention.

The following description has reference to the accompanying drawingwhich forms a part hereof. In the drawing and description the variousframes are referred to by letters and the features of the frames bynumerals.

The drawing illustrates selected frames from a typical film constructedaccording to this invention.

It is thought best for the purpose of explanation that a completetypical film be described. lt being understood that the invention is notlimited to this particular film, since an infinite number of differingfilms can be created to carry out the features and objects of thistypical film.

The film opens as usual with a title frame A corresponding to the titleof the primary musical number or song to be first played by the musicianor organist. This title may be accompanied by suitable art decorationssuch as illustrated at 10.

After sufficient time has elapsed for the audience to read the title, itwill fade out into a main art background such as illustrated in frame Bat 11, containing some figure to which it is possible to impartanimation. In the typical film illustrated. the figure comprises a girl12, in a reclining position, engaged in blowing bubbles. During theshowing of the title and main art frames A and B, the musician will playthe introduction to the primary song.

The typical film illustrated has been patterned to accompany musicplayed to four four time or four beats to the measure and one leg 13 ofthe girl 12 is used to beat the time or set the tempo for the musician.The leg 13 will swing up a full stroke for beats one and four and halfway up and down for beats two and three similar to the swing of anorchestra leaders baton, thus the organist will definitely know whichbeat is being indicated by the animation.

During the playing of the introduction the leg 13 will remainstationary. The leg .will swing up on beat four of the final measure ofthe'introduction. As the leg moves down for a second long stroke theorganist will start the vamp of the song upon beat one. The leg willbeat throughout the vamp definitely setting for the musician the timefor the song to follow, as. indicated in frame C. On the final measureof the vamp the leg will remain stationary for beats two and three andon beat four of the final measure a shield or design 14 will appear onthe art background 11 as indicated in frame D. This is a definite cue tothe musician that on the next beat one, words will appear. He can thenbe prepared to play the proper melody note upon the appearance of thefirst word.

As the first sentence appears the initial letter of the first word willoccur within the design 13 as shown in frame E of the drawing. Theappearance of the design has attracted the audiences attention to thisspot on the screen, therefore, they are prepared to begin reading thetext promptly at the first letter thereof. The Words appear in completesentences or phrases.

After a suficient time has elapsed-for the audience to read the wordsand to prevent their attention from straying from the screen, liveanimation acting the story of the accompanying words may appear asindicated at 15.

As the musician approaches the last notes to accompany the sentenceappearing on the screen, the leg-13 will beat counts two and three ofthe closing measure. A second shield or design 16, see frame F appearson count four and a new sentence with its initial letter in the seconddesign appears on count one, thus the musician has three separate cuesin advance of the appearance of a second sentence.

After the screen has become filled with words or whenever it is desiredto change the entire text, the leg 13 will beat counts one and two ofthe closing measure, the words will fade out on count three and a newshield or design will appear on the count four followed by a newsentence with its initial letter appearing in the design on count one ofthe opening measure.

By this means, the musician is at all times informed as to the exactaccompanying music he should be playing to coincide with the action andwords upon the screen. He receives his notices in advance so that he canbe prepared for all changes. Cues can be marked upon the musicians musicsheet at the proper places such as leg raises, design appears, wordsfade, etc.

Additional figures and art work may be employed during long holds orpauses such as indicated by the girl 12 blowing bubbles 17, of frame G.In the film illustrated the live animation appears in the bubbles blownby the girl 12. The above action is continued where necessary ordesirable throughout the playing of the song verses and chorus. Thefinal measure of the final chorus is indicated to the musician by theleg 13 beating counts one and two, the Words fading out on counts threeand four.

On count one after the close of the final chorus a scene 18 appears suchas shown in frame H and acts out an action or story of a secondarymusical number or interlude which the musician will play as a solo. Thisnumber while differing from the primary song will have a story orsentiment corresponding to that of the primary song.

For instance, assuming the main song to be the popular number DreamKisses, as illustrated, the interlude music could be a. solo arrangementof some similar song, an instrumental piece such as A Dream by Barttell.

As the interlude draws to a close its accompan ing art work 18 will fadeout and a come y scene will appear, such as illustrated at 19, frame I.In this scene any desired figure, such as the cows tail 20 of frame Imay be employed to beat the tempo of beats two and three. A design 21will appear on beat four and on the following beat one the musician willstrike the opening note of the chorus of the main or primary song.

The number of frames per beat are decreased at the opening of the comedyscene so that the tempo is quickened to what is popularly known as jazztempo which is carried throughout the comedy scene. The faster temporeacts upon the audience with the stimulation of the relief caused bythe change from seriousness to comedy. As the opening note is struck bythe musician the words of the chorus of the primary song will appearwith the initial letter'in the design 21. A comedy scene is now inactedto carry out a burlesque of the chorus words which were in the firstpart of the film acted out as.

a serious scene.

The music and picture closes on the final chord of the jazz chorus withthe intention of leaving the audience in a quickened, stimulated moodwhich will lead them to subconsciously react to applaud the film andmusic.

Ill)

- eaaeee applauded even though it is unnatural for motion pictureaudience to applaud a picure.

The number of frames to be employed for each beat of the animatedfigures and word cues is determined by a mathematical relation betweenthe frames, and the notes accompanying the words thereof, in the song.This relation and method of obtaining it has been described morecompletely in the applicants co-pending application, Serial #251,- 290,filed February 2, 1928. Another method of determining the number offrames to accompany the beats is illustrated and described in the aplicants co-pending application, Serial #2 3,343 filed Apr. 27, 1928.

It has been found desirable to omit any action on the screen during thetime the audience is reading the words thereon, as the action willdetract attention from the words. At times during the words it isdesirable for the audience to stop reading while the musician holds achord or rest. At this time the animations 15 and 17, can be made tomove so that attention will be detracted from the words until the musicis ready to proceed I with the melody, at which time the actions may bestopped into still pictures.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried,'within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what it claim and desire secured byLetters Patent 1. In a film adapted to project the words of a song upona projection screen, means for indicating in advance when and where saidwords Will subsequently appear comprising: a design carried by said filma predetermined interval in advance of said words, said design beingpositioned so that the initial letter of the following words will appeartherein.

2. A motion picture film comprising: a first series of frames; a secondsuccessive series of frames; an indicating device carried by both saidseries of frames; song wordscarried by said second series of frames,said first series containing a predetermined number of frames so thatsaid indication will be projected a predetermined period in advance ofsaid words so as to give advance notice when said words will appear andalso so that said indication will indicate where said words willsubsequently appear.

3. A film adapted to project the words of a song upon a projectionscreen comprising: words carried by said film; means for indicating inadvance where said words will appear on said screen comprising: a designcarried by said film a definite period in advance of said words as wellas simultaneously with said words so that said words will appear indefinite relation to the previously appearin design.

In testimony whereof, I afix m signature.

WAJLDO JOHN UNEE.

